The Grand Kirk and Daddy Kirkmeister had to hike with gear up to Clingman's Dome last night since Clingman's Dome Rd. was closed!! This added a little to the adventure, but they made it up safely and spent a safe but chilly night up under the stars by the tower of this first 6,000 footer of this quest! Daddy Kirkmeister then road his bike with the gear back down to Newfound Gap and left Matt to start from atop the tower of Clingman's Dome at 5:45 am. Matt summitted Mt. Collins at 6:31 am, and by 7:30 am was at Newfound Gap gearing up to head towards Mt. Leconte! He was in good spirits and seems to be looking forward to spending what looks to be a beautiful day out in the Smokies! Stay tuned....UPDATE #2: Heard from Matt from around Charlie's Bunion and he had summitted Kephart at 8:26 am and Leconte at 9:40 am. With about 22 miles under his belt (when contacted), he also had gained a cumulative vertical of a mile! Keep on keepin' on bro!! No updates as I turn in for the night...spotty cell reception is to blame. Laniak the Maniak was going to be hooking up with Matt with some treats and some pacing duties for a bit along Balsam Mountain Rd., so I will check in by morning to update everyone on what Carl has to say...UPDATE #3: Got a message from The Grand Kirk...totals for Day 1- 68.1 miles/12 peaks climbed/13,980 ft. elev. gain/20 hrs. 30 min - I am pretty impressed with these totals!!! Quite an incredible first day for sure...PEAKS CLIMBED: Clingman's Dome/5:45am, Collins/6:31am, Kephart/8:26am, Leconte/9:40am, Sequoyah/1:26pm, Chapman/2:01 pm, Guyot/3:10pm, Old Black/3:47 pm, Mark's Knob/4:53pm, Yonaguska/5:28pm, Luftee Knob/6:24pm, Big Cataloochee7:40pm
Day 2 (5/27/10):
After 4 hours of sleep, The Grand Kirk is at it again. Only sign of trouble at this point is a sore knee that got banged up while going over some blowdowns on one of the peaks. Nothing that a couple more hours of running can't make go away!?! I will be headin' out to find him this afternoon, and updates will be coming from J.W., so stay tuned! UPDATE #2: Just spoke to The Grand Kirk at 9:13am and he was on Waterrock Knob after a successful summit of Yellow Face/8:20am! He sounded to be in good spirits and we are planning on meeting up at Balsam Gap. He was on his way to tag Jones Knob (aka Lyn Lowry) and Plott Balsam! His knee isn't bothering him too much at this point, so that is good. He is a good bit ahead of schedule, and looks to get to Balsam Gap by about 12:30! UPDATE #3 Josh here, sorry for the late updates...12:21PM Matt took a quick nap at Orchard Overlook. 1:32PM Mad A now has joined up with Matt and they are leaving Balsam Gap. UPDATE #4 7:28pm Richland Balsam and "killing it" according to Mad A. UPDATE #5 Reinhart at 8:37pm trying to make 215 for the night. UPDATE #6 9:49 at Haywood Gap tough stretch but still shooting for 215 for the night. And some pics from Carl much earlier in the day. PEAKS CLIMBED: Yellow Face, Waterrock Knob, Jones Knob (Lyn Lowry), Plott Balsam, Richland Balsam, Reinhart Knob, Hardy
UPDATE #1 - Matt left Sam Knob's Parking Lot at about 9:15am. This puts him about 3 hours ahead of schedule. Mad A says he's rocking and rolling, feeling great and the knee is feeling better. Mad A Updates: back in Asheville after spending 20 hours or so on the trail with The Grand Kirk! I will sum up my time the best I can, which may repeat some of what was updated above....Taking off from Balsam Gap during Day 2, he was in good shape . His "significant other", Lily had done a surprise campout on Yellow Face, and has been a welcome edition to the crew of Daddy Kirkmeister and the Muppet Mobile! They have been an amazing crew to The Grand Kirk....and I was even fortunate enough to enjoy their help during my time on the trail!! We made really good time on this 8 mile stretch to the next aid, then stayed on the trail and entered a section that I call the "Bermuda's Triangle". This section was TOUGH but beautiful! We miraculously found our bushwack that would take us up to Cowee Gap Overlook (?) which was straight up for a half a mile! We made quick work of this aid stop as we watched some scary storm clouds skirt the summit of Richland Balsam. We motored up to the summit, thankful of missing this impending storm, took some pictures, then flew from there to "the Chute". I had picked up the bike in which to cycle alongside Matt during this few mile Parkway stretch, and after setting it off the road, we went up the chute and into the bushwack, and were on the summit in no time, and then back down along the Parkway. We were very glad to be able to get Reinhart in before dark!! Our next aid stop was Haywood Gap, and The Grand Kirk was sleepy...a Mad A homeade burrito hit the spot, though, and then we were off to find Mt. Hardy. The full moon was ROCKIN' and we would occasionally turn off our headlamps as we trekked through some of the open spaces through Middle Prong Wilderness! Mt. Hardy was glorious in the moonlight, and Matt was movin' well! Before we knew it we had made it to Hwy 215 at 12:35, and by 1am Matt was sound asleep. We got on the trail after some shuteye a little after 6 am...the bushwack up Chestnut Bald was tough, but Sam's Knob was superb with incredible views all around! Anne Lundblad met up with the crew at Sam's Knob parking area and brought up some delicious muffins and breakfast burritos! Thanks Anne! Matt left out of there around 9:15 chipper and ready to take on Shining Rock....stay tuned for more info as I get it...as well as for more pics and video!!!
UPDATE #2: Just heard from The Grand Kirk, and also got off the phone with Daddy Kirkmeister! He is almost to the MST at Hwy 276 and got to Big East Fork Trailhead at 4:11...ALMOST 2 HOURS ahead of when he estimate he would when leaving Sam's Knob Parking (and approx. 5 hous ahead of tentative shedule!! He sounded to be in good spirits! Sultan is planning on meeting at Pisgah Inn and running with The Grand Kirk to the French Broad River before coming to Mad A's pad for some showers and shuteye!!! GOOOO MATT!!!
UPDATE #3: Talked to The Grand Kirk from the Mt. Pisgah parking area at 8:42 pm...he was about to be off on the Shut In Trail, and hopes to get a good ways down before getting some sleep. Sultan met him at Elk Pasture Gap in order to run with him back to Mad A's pad! I will be back on the trail with him tomorrow at some point, so expect more firsthand updates by then! PEAKS CLIMBED: Chestnut Bald, Sam's Knob, Black Balsam Knob, Tennent, Grassy Cove Top, Shining Rock, Cold Mtn.
Day 4 (5/29/10):
The Grand Kirk started the day going over Truckwheel Mountain on the Mountains to Sea Trail near Sleepy Gap on the Parkway at 6:15 am and is feeling well after a good night's sleep! He should be into the heart of the Asheville section of the MST right now! UPDATE #2: The Grand Kirk is doing GREAT, and came through Sweeten Creek Rd. (Hwy 25a) at 9:15am. He is expecting to arrive at the Folk Art Center at 11:15 (approx.)! UPDATE #3: Josh here - Just got off the phone with Mad A at the Folk Art Center. Matt arrived at 11:24 and took a break to wash up and refuel. He's feeling great and was planning of leaving by about 12:15 or so. Mad A will be with him throughout the day so hopefully plenty of updates coming. Leaving Folk Art Center at 12:15 puts him about 4.5 hours ahead of the itinerary. UPDATE #4: Matt made it through Cravens Gap at 1:35pm. UPDATE #5: Mad A here...The Grand Kirk is feeling great, and plugging along. Came through Bee Tree Gap around 5:15 pm, and should be summiting Craggy Dome right about now. (7:30pm)..he is hoping to make it to Mt. Mitchell before getting some sleep! My wife Suzanne and I had the utmost pleasure of spending some great trail miles with him today, and the weather was fantastic and spirits were high! Almost there buddy!!!! PEAKS CLIMBED: Craggy Dome, Blackstock Knob, Mt. Gibbes, Hallback, Mt. Mitchell
Here we go folks!! He can taste the finish at this point! The Grand Kirk reached Mt. Mitchell at 1:32 am after a gnarly nighttime bushwack/trailfinding excursion over Blackstock and Mt. Gibbes in the cold fog, but he made it unscathed! After getting some much needed sleep, he is off for the final leg of this adventure! He called from the summit of Craig at 7:11am...I am hoping to get out there soon to crew/pace him to the finish, so more updates will come from someone! Thanks to everyone following along....it really helps motivate him for sure! UPDATE #2: The Grand Kirk descended into Bowlens Creek at 11:15 am, and has started the long road stretch through Burnsville area and up to the last remaining peaks!! Go Matt!! PEAKS CLIMBED: Craig, Balsam Cone, Potato Hill, Winter Star, Gibbs Mountain, Celo Knob, Roan High Bluff, Roan High Knob, Grassy Ridge Bald FINISHED @ THE SUMMIT OF GRASSY RIDGE Bald @ 8:23PM!!!!
Welcome to the Beyond 6000 Wikispace
This website has been set up to document a South Beyond 6000 speed record attempt.4 days, 14 hours, and 38 minutes!!!
A post-run report from Matt
Read below for more details, pictures, and video....
Check below for live updates (thanks to Mad A):
Enjoy the slide show below...more video to come...SB6K Slide show... from Adam Hill on Vimeo.
Day 1 (5/26/10):
The Grand Kirk and Daddy Kirkmeister had to hike with gear up to Clingman's Dome last night since Clingman's Dome Rd. was closed!! This added a little to the adventure, but they made it up safely and spent a safe but chilly night up under the stars by the tower of this first 6,000 footer of this quest! Daddy Kirkmeister then road his bike with the gear back down to Newfound Gap and left Matt to start from atop the tower of Clingman's Dome at 5:45 am. Matt summitted Mt. Collins at 6:31 am, and by 7:30 am was at Newfound Gap gearing up to head towards Mt. Leconte! He was in good spirits and seems to be looking forward to spending what looks to be a beautiful day out in the Smokies! Stay tuned....UPDATE #2: Heard from Matt from around Charlie's Bunion and he had summitted Kephart at 8:26 am and Leconte at 9:40 am. With about 22 miles under his belt (when contacted), he also had gained a cumulative vertical of a mile! Keep on keepin' on bro!! No updates as I turn in for the night...spotty cell reception is to blame. Laniak the Maniak was going to be hooking up with Matt with some treats and some pacing duties for a bit along Balsam Mountain Rd., so I will check in by morning to update everyone on what Carl has to say...UPDATE #3: Got a message from The Grand Kirk...totals for Day 1- 68.1 miles/12 peaks climbed/13,980 ft. elev. gain/20 hrs. 30 min - I am pretty impressed with these totals!!! Quite an incredible first day for sure...PEAKS CLIMBED: Clingman's Dome/5:45am, Collins/6:31am, Kephart/8:26am, Leconte/9:40am, Sequoyah/1:26pm, Chapman/2:01 pm, Guyot/3:10pm, Old Black/3:47 pm, Mark's Knob/4:53pm, Yonaguska/5:28pm, Luftee Knob/6:24pm, Big Cataloochee7:40pm
Day 2 (5/27/10):
After 4 hours of sleep, The Grand Kirk is at it again. Only sign of trouble at this point is a sore knee that got banged up while going over some blowdowns on one of the peaks. Nothing that a couple more hours of running can't make go away!?! I will be headin' out to find him this afternoon, and updates will be coming from J.W., so stay tuned! UPDATE #2: Just spoke to The Grand Kirk at 9:13am and he was on Waterrock Knob after a successful summit of Yellow Face/8:20am! He sounded to be in good spirits and we are planning on meeting up at Balsam Gap. He was on his way to tag Jones Knob (aka Lyn Lowry) and Plott Balsam! His knee isn't bothering him too much at this point, so that is good. He is a good bit ahead of schedule, and looks to get to Balsam Gap by about 12:30! UPDATE #3 Josh here, sorry for the late updates...12:21PM Matt took a quick nap at Orchard Overlook. 1:32PM Mad A now has joined up with Matt and they are leaving Balsam Gap. UPDATE #4 7:28pm Richland Balsam and "killing it" according to Mad A. UPDATE #5 Reinhart at 8:37pm trying to make 215 for the night. UPDATE #6 9:49 at Haywood Gap tough stretch but still shooting for 215 for the night. And some pics from Carl much earlier in the day. PEAKS CLIMBED: Yellow Face, Waterrock Knob, Jones Knob (Lyn Lowry), Plott Balsam, Richland Balsam, Reinhart Knob, Hardy
SB6K Day 2 & 3!! from Adam Hill on Vimeo.
Day 3 (5/28/10):
UPDATE #1 - Matt left Sam Knob's Parking Lot at about 9:15am. This puts him about 3 hours ahead of schedule. Mad A says he's rocking and rolling, feeling great and the knee is feeling better. Mad A Updates: back in Asheville after spending 20 hours or so on the trail with The Grand Kirk! I will sum up my time the best I can, which may repeat some of what was updated above....Taking off from Balsam Gap during Day 2, he was in good shape . His "significant other", Lily had done a surprise campout on Yellow Face, and has been a welcome edition to the crew of Daddy Kirkmeister and the Muppet Mobile! They have been an amazing crew to The Grand Kirk....and I was even fortunate enough to enjoy their help during my time on the trail!! We made really good time on this 8 mile stretch to the next aid, then stayed on the trail and entered a section that I call the "Bermuda's Triangle". This section was TOUGH but beautiful! We miraculously found our bushwack that would take us up to Cowee Gap Overlook (?) which was straight up for a half a mile! We made quick work of this aid stop as we watched some scary storm clouds skirt the summit of Richland Balsam. We motored up to the summit, thankful of missing this impending storm, took some pictures, then flew from there to "the Chute". I had picked up the bike in which to cycle alongside Matt during this few mile Parkway stretch, and after setting it off the road, we went up the chute and into the bushwack, and were on the summit in no time, and then back down along the Parkway. We were very glad to be able to get Reinhart in before dark!! Our next aid stop was Haywood Gap, and The Grand Kirk was sleepy...a Mad A homeade burrito hit the spot, though, and then we were off to find Mt. Hardy. The full moon was ROCKIN' and we would occasionally turn off our headlamps as we trekked through some of the open spaces through Middle Prong Wilderness! Mt. Hardy was glorious in the moonlight, and Matt was movin' well! Before we knew it we had made it to Hwy 215 at 12:35, and by 1am Matt was sound asleep. We got on the trail after some shuteye a little after 6 am...the bushwack up Chestnut Bald was tough, but Sam's Knob was superb with incredible views all around! Anne Lundblad met up with the crew at Sam's Knob parking area and brought up some delicious muffins and breakfast burritos! Thanks Anne! Matt left out of there around 9:15 chipper and ready to take on Shining Rock....stay tuned for more info as I get it...as well as for more pics and video!!!
UPDATE #2: Just heard from The Grand Kirk, and also got off the phone with Daddy Kirkmeister! He is almost to the MST at Hwy 276 and got to Big East Fork Trailhead at 4:11...ALMOST 2 HOURS ahead of when he estimate he would when leaving Sam's Knob Parking (and approx. 5 hous ahead of tentative shedule!! He sounded to be in good spirits! Sultan is planning on meeting at Pisgah Inn and running with The Grand Kirk to the French Broad River before coming to Mad A's pad for some showers and shuteye!!! GOOOO MATT!!!
UPDATE #3: Talked to The Grand Kirk from the Mt. Pisgah parking area at 8:42 pm...he was about to be off on the Shut In Trail, and hopes to get a good ways down before getting some sleep. Sultan met him at Elk Pasture Gap in order to run with him back to Mad A's pad! I will be back on the trail with him tomorrow at some point, so expect more firsthand updates by then! PEAKS CLIMBED: Chestnut Bald, Sam's Knob, Black Balsam Knob, Tennent, Grassy Cove Top, Shining Rock, Cold Mtn.
Day 4 (5/29/10):
The Grand Kirk started the day going over Truckwheel Mountain on the Mountains to Sea Trail near Sleepy Gap on the Parkway at 6:15 am and is feeling well after a good night's sleep! He should be into the heart of the Asheville section of the MST right now! UPDATE #2: The Grand Kirk is doing GREAT, and came through Sweeten Creek Rd. (Hwy 25a) at 9:15am. He is expecting to arrive at the Folk Art Center at 11:15 (approx.)! UPDATE #3: Josh here - Just got off the phone with Mad A at the Folk Art Center. Matt arrived at 11:24 and took a break to wash up and refuel. He's feeling great and was planning of leaving by about 12:15 or so. Mad A will be with him throughout the day so hopefully plenty of updates coming. Leaving Folk Art Center at 12:15 puts him about 4.5 hours ahead of the itinerary. UPDATE #4: Matt made it through Cravens Gap at 1:35pm. UPDATE #5: Mad A here...The Grand Kirk is feeling great, and plugging along. Came through Bee Tree Gap around 5:15 pm, and should be summiting Craggy Dome right about now. (7:30pm)..he is hoping to make it to Mt. Mitchell before getting some sleep! My wife Suzanne and I had the utmost pleasure of spending some great trail miles with him today, and the weather was fantastic and spirits were high! Almost there buddy!!!! PEAKS CLIMBED: Craggy Dome, Blackstock Knob, Mt. Gibbes, Hallback, Mt. Mitchell
SB6K Day 4!! from Adam Hill on Vimeo.
DAY 5 (5/30/10):
Here we go folks!! He can taste the finish at this point! The Grand Kirk reached Mt. Mitchell at 1:32 am after a gnarly nighttime bushwack/trailfinding excursion over Blackstock and Mt. Gibbes in the cold fog, but he made it unscathed! After getting some much needed sleep, he is off for the final leg of this adventure! He called from the summit of Craig at 7:11am...I am hoping to get out there soon to crew/pace him to the finish, so more updates will come from someone! Thanks to everyone following along....it really helps motivate him for sure! UPDATE #2: The Grand Kirk descended into Bowlens Creek at 11:15 am, and has started the long road stretch through Burnsville area and up to the last remaining peaks!! Go Matt!! PEAKS CLIMBED: Craig, Balsam Cone, Potato Hill, Winter Star, Gibbs Mountain, Celo Knob, Roan High Bluff, Roan High Knob, Grassy Ridge Bald
FINISHED @ THE SUMMIT OF GRASSY RIDGE Bald @ 8:23PM!!!!